Water transfer device for underground water collection and storage chambers

ABSTRACT

An invention relating to underground water collection and storage chamber systems and more particularly, to water transfer device s such as transfer devices from a primary water collection and storage chamber to a secondary water collection and storage chamber.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to underground water collection and storage chamber systems and more particularly, to water transfer device s such as transfer device s from a primary water collection and storage chamber to a secondary water collection and storage chamber.

BACKGROUND

In recent years there has been a strong development of various storm water control systems to address the issues of stormwater runoff quantity and quality. One development has been the use of sub-surface water collection and storage chamber systems designed to retain stormwater surface flows and in particular, allow for a much slower discharge of stormwater effluents into receiving waters. Many of these systems are designed so there is a primary receiving chamber and several secondary chambers that line up end to end under impervious surfaces such as paved parking lots.

Arch shaped underground water collection and storage chambers are highly preferable to other types of underground water management systems. Unlike some other types of underground water management devices, arch shaped water collection and storage chamber systems are better equipped to be located under paved areas. These systems receive surface water, typically from wet weather events through surface drains into one or more primary water collection and storage chamber. These primary chambers are usually connected to a series of secondary water collection and storage chambers by a straight transfer device between the side wall of the primary chamber and an end wall of a secondary chamber. Usually these connecting pipes are approximately halfway up the wall of the chambers and are designed to transfer water from the primary chamber when the amount of water from the surface drain is such that drainage from the primary chamber is slower than the intake of the volume of surface flow. The transfer device s act as an overflow bypass mechanism and the transferred water accumulates in the secondary systems until the surface drainage ceases. At that time the secondary chambers either drain into the soils below if they are previous, or in the case of impervious soils, drain out of a secondary drainage pipe into a secondary drainage system. In some cases the drainage water might be held for other uses such as, for example, irrigation.

One of the problems with these systems is that by utilizing a straight pipe as a water transfer device the water from the primary chamber passes to the secondary chamber with all of the debris, sediments and other pollutants that were washed off of the surface by the wet weather flow. These secondary chambers then accumulate this debris, sediments, and other pollutants throughout the system making maintenance expensive and time consuming. In many cases these pollutants can result in the failure of the system due to clogging and sediment buildup requiring removal of the surface material such as a parking lot in order to replace them. There is a clear need for water transfer device s that can minimize the transfer of debris and sediments and other pollutants from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber thus allowing the primary system to retain the debris and sediments and drastically reducing maintenance cost and time of the system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are several new and novel water transfer devices for moving excess surface water from a primary water collection and storage chamber into a secondary water collection and storage chambers. In the preferred embodiment the transfer devices would be pipes where the inlet of the pipe is 8″ to 10″ above the floor of the primary water collection and storage system and rise vertically to a point approximately half way to the top of the primary chamber. At that location in the preferred embodiment the transfer device would turn 90° and pass through the wall of the primary water collection and storage chamber and cross over to and through the end wall of a secondary water collection and storage system where the water would be discharged. In one embodiment the 90° angled water transfer device might be a pipe 4-6″ in diameter. In a preferred embodiment the entrance to the water transfer device might contain a filter or a screen for preventing course debris sediment and/or other pollutants from entering the water transfer device from the primary water collection and storage chamber. As the primary water collection and storage chamber begins to fill with water draining into it from a surface drain, the water would rise within the primary chamber and upwards through the inlet of the water transfer device until it reaches the 90° angle of the water transfer device. At this point the water would then flow horizontally into a secondary water collection and storage chamber until such times as the receiving primary water collection and storage chamber ceases to receive surface water and the quantity of the water decreases thus stopping the flow to the secondary water collection and storage chamber. Floating debris in the primary chamber would not be able to enter the water transfer device pipe since the inlet of the water transfer device intake would be below the surface water level in the primary chamber. In one embodiment the transfer device might be a separate angled transfer device connected to a straight transfer device that passes from the primary underground water collection and storage chamber to the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber.

The primary water collection and storage chamber could include one or more of the angled water transfer devices, with each device connecting to a separate secondary water collection and storage chamber. In some embodiments the angled water transfer devices inlet openings in the primary water collection and storage chamber might be at varying heights above the floor in order to control which secondary water collection and storage chamber would receive the first flow of water from the primary water collection and storage chamber. With the use of varying inlet heights the user could predetermine which secondary water collection and storage chamber would receive overflow from the primary chamber first.

In some embodiments the inlet of the angled water transfer device might contain a filter media designed to remove pollutants such as sediment from the water. The filter media could be comprised of a media material that could remove other pollutants such as hydrocarbons, metals or other selected pollutants, depending on the desired use.

In one embodiment the facing inlet of the water transfer device in the primary chamber might be angled horizontally within the primary chamber and downstream preventing the flow from entering directly into the water transfer device. In one embodiment the water transfer device would be paired with a higher secondary transfer pipe to allow for bypass in heavy flows. This might allow for the transfer of the first flush of drained surface water in the primary chamber to filter through the first transfer that might contain media, a screening component, or both. The secondary higher elevated bypass water transfer pipe would prevent a back up of the entire primary chamber in very heavy rain falls and thus flooding on the surface.

In some embodiments the water transfer device might contain a spring trap device that prevents the water flow from traveling back into the primary chamber from the secondary chamber when the primary chamber's water level declines. The water in the secondary chamber would then drain slowly through the previous floor, or out a secondary drain or be stored for other uses such as irrigation. In an alternative embodiment, the transfer pipe might include a trap door mechanism on its bottom which upon accumulation of a predetermined load would open and drop sediment and other debris into an area below the water transfer device between the primary and secondary chambers.

Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved apparatus and methods for water transfer devices such as, for example, water transfer pipes for use in underground stormwater collection and storage chamber systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments or variations of the water collection and storage system storage devices are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an underground surface water collection and storage system.

FIG. 2 a shows a cutaway view of a primary underground surface water collection and storage chamber with a 90° angled water transfer device and a straight transfer device connected to the secondary water collection and storage chambers.

FIGS. 2 b and c show an example of an alternative water transfer device connecting a primary underground surface water collection and storage chamber with secondary water collection and storage chambers.

FIG. 3 shows a 90° angled water transfer device with varying opening sizes for accepting different size water transfer pipes at its outlet and varying opening sizes for filter media.

FIGS. 4 a-d shows various examples of a 90° angled water transfer device.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a 90° angled water transfer device in a primary underground water collection and storage chamber.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway side view of a primary underground water collection and storage chamber with a 90° angled water transfer device.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a filter media cartridge for a 90° angled water transfer device.

FIG. 8 shows a filter media cartridge contained within the inlet of a 90° angled water transfer device.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen contained within the inlet of a 90° angled water transfer device.

FIG. 10 shows a 90°, angled transit device filter fitting with a deep filter component at its outlet and at its inlet.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective of a 90° angled water transfer device with a cutaway view of a filter at its inlet.

FIG. 12 shows a cutaway of a side view of a 90° angled water transfer device containing filter media.

FIG. 13 shows the inlet portion of a 90° angled water transfer device with a bypass opening.

FIG. 14 shows a cutaway of a 90° angled water transfer device with a bypass going from a primary underground water collection and storage chamber into a secondary water collection and storage chamber.

FIG. 15 shows a primary underground water collection and storage chamber connected to a secondary water and storage chamber by a 90° angled water transfer device with surface access ports.

FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of a primary water collection and storage chamber with a straight transfer device coming through its side with a media filter at its inlet.

FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of a primary water collection and storage chamber with a straight transfer device coming through its side with a screen at its inlet.

FIG. 18 shows two water transfer device s of varying heights at their inlet openings going from a primary underground water collection and storage chamber into respective secondary underground water collection and storage chambers.

FIG. 19 shows a 90° angled water transfer device facing the bottom of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and a second bypass 90° angled water transfer device facing downstream.

FIG. 20 shows a 90° angled water transfer device with a bypass facing the bottom of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and a second bypass 90° angled water transfer device facing downstream.

FIG. 21 show a top view of the angled water transfer device system.

FIG. 22 shows an angled water transfer device facing upwards towards the ceiling of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber with a surface access port.

FIG. 23 shows three 90° transfer device s facing upwards towards the ceiling of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber with a surface access ports.

FIG. 24 shows a water transfer device with a sediment trap device located at the bottom of the pipe in a closed position.

FIG. 25 shows a water transfer device with a sediment trap device located in an open position.

FIG. 26 shows a cutaway view of a sediment trap device with a weir component in a water transfer device.

FIG. 27 shows a sediment trap device with a spring mechanism.

FIG. 28 shows a sediment trap door device located in the water transfer device between the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber in a closed position.

FIG. 29 shows a sediment trap device located in the water transfer device between the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber in an open position.

FIG. 30 shows a sediment trap device in a closed position located in the water transfer device within the primary underground water collection and storage chamber.

FIG. 31 shows a sediment trap device in an open position located in the water transfer device within the primary underground water collection and storage chamber.

FIG. 32 shows a water transfer device with a trap door device system at the outlet of the water transfer device located in the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber for preventing back flow to the primary chamber within the trap in a closed position.

FIG. 33 shows a water transfer device with a trap door device system at the outlet of the water transfer device located in the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber or preventing back flow to the primary chamber within the trap in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally denotes an exemplary embodiment of a water transfer device underground chamber system such as, for example, a water transfer pipe between underground water collection and storage chambers. Any device however, could be utilized, for transferring water between the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and secondary underground water collection and storage chamber. For example, FIGS. 2 b and c shows an alternative water transfer device which is a scaled down chamber design 111 that is transferring the water between the primary underground water collection and storage chamber and a secondary underground water collection and storage chamber. While the preferred embodiment of the disclosures contained herein are pipes, any method of a water transfer device could be utilized. FIG. 1 shows an example of an underground water collection and storage system wherein the water drains from the surface through a surface drain 101 into a primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103. Several other secondary underground water collection and storage chambers 105 are connected to the primary chamber through transfer devices 107 to allow water flow to drain into the secondary chambers from the primary chambers when needed. Maintenance of the primary chamber may be provided through an access port 109 in the primary chamber 103.

FIG. 2 a depicts a preferred embodiment of the angled inlet water transfer device which is a 90° angled water transfer device. The inlet opening 201 of the water transfer device 107 located inside the primary water collection and storage chamber 103 is shown in a horizontal position with the inlet opening parallel with the floor of the chamber 205. The 90° angled water transfer device 107 rises vertically from its inlet towards the ceiling of the primary chamber 207, and at a point approximately one half of the way towards the chamber ceiling the transfer device is turned 90° 209 towards the inside wall 211 of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103. The water transfer device 107 exits the primary chamber 103 through the side wall 211 and crosses over to a secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105 where the water transfer device outlet drains into a secondary underground water collection and storage chamber. While in the preferred embodiment the angle of the transfer device 90°, any angle could be utilized that would place the inlet of the transfer device below the level of the bottom of the water transfer device. In a preferred embodiment a 90° angled water transfer device 107 might include a screen or filter at its inlet within the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 201. As shown in FIG. 2 a a second straight water transfer device 213 might be included that has an inlet opening 215 without a 90° turn in the primary chamber 103 which acts as a bypass for the 90° angled water transfer device 107 and allows excess water contained in the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 to drain directly into a second underground water collection and storage chamber 215 located next to the first secondary chamber 105. In one embodiment this secondary bypass transfer device might have a screen. FIG. 3 shows a cutaway of a 90° angled water transfer device which has variable openings at its outlet 301 to accommodate attaching it to different transfer device sizes, for example 6, 8, or 10 inch pipes.

The inlet opening of a 90° angled water transfer device in the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 105 might include a filter or screen containing component 401 as shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment this component might be removable for maintenance such as cleaning and/or replacing filter media. FIG. 5 shows a filter or screen containment component 401 connected to the inlet end of the 90° angled water transfer device 203.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway of a 90° angled water transfer device 203 including a variable size filter or screen containment component 401. In a preferred embodiment the opening 601 to the transfer filter might be 8-9″ above the floor of the primary water collection and storage chamber. In an alternative embodiment the opening might be 3-12″ above the floor. The opening could be any distance sufficient to allow rising water to flow through an inlet opening at a level below the distance where the transfer device 107 passes through the side wall of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 211 towards and into the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a filter cartridge 701 that might be inserted into the inlet end 801 of a water transfer device 107 as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment where the 90° angled water transfer device 203 might contain a screen 901 at its inlet end 801. FIG. 10 shows an example of an alternative embodiment where a filter media 701 might be placed in the outlet 1001 of the 90° angled water transfer device 203. In one variation there might be a filter in the inlet 801 and the outlet 1001. FIGS. 11 and 12 show different perspectives of the 90° angled water transfer device, 203 with a filter 701 at its inlet end 801.

As shown in FIG. 13 in an alternative embodiment, a 90° angled water transfer device 203 with a filter cartridge 701 might include an opening 1301 at its top 1303 to allow flow to bypass the filters 701 and flow directly into the 90° angled water transfer device 203 and into the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105. This would prevent a backup in the primary underground water collection and storage system 103 which could result in surface flooding. FIGS. 14 and 15 show a 90° angled water transfer device 203 placed within the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 with a bypass opening 1301 and a surface access port 1401.

In an alternative embodiment the transfer device 107 might have an inlet opening without a bend 1001 that is configured to contain a media filter cartridge 701 without a bend in the transfer device 107 as shown in FIG. 16, or a screen 901 as shown in FIG. 17.

In one embodiment the inlet openings of the 90° angled water transfer devices 203 might be at two varying heights above the floor 205 of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 as shown in FIG. 18. In one embodiment the 90° angled water transfer device 203 most distant 1801 from the surface drain would be lower towards the bottom allowing for the secondary collection and storage of water in the most downstream underground water collection and storage chamber 1803 first.

FIG. 19 depicts an alternative embodiment where one of the 90° angled water transfer devices 203, for example the downstream transfer device 1901 has an inlet 1503 that faces upstream rather than downwards toward the floor 205 of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103. This would allow the downstream 90° angled water transfer device 1901 to function as a bypass for an upstream 90° angled water transfer device 203 with a filter 701 or screen 901 with high flow to prevent flooding from back up on the surface. FIG. 20 shows a pair of 90° angled devices with one 90° angled water transfer device inlet facing downstream 1901, and a second 90° angled water transfer device 203 that faces the floor 205 of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 with a bypass 1301. In an alternative embodiment, the downstream transfer device 1505 might face downstream. It might face upwards towards the top of the primary chamber 103. FIG. 21 shows a top view of a pair of 90° angled water transfer device system with one transfer device facing downstream.

FIG. 22 shows a 90° angled water transfer device 203 with its inlet pointed up 2201 and facing the top 2203 of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103. FIG. 23 shows three 90° angled water transfer devices 203 facing upward 2201 with filters 701 contained in the inlets 801 of the devices and an access portal 1401 located at the top of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 for maintaining the inlet filters 701 or screens 901 from the surface. In an alternative embodiment a secondary transfer device 2201 might be located above the primary transfer device 107 to allow for bypass of water directly from the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 to the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105 to prevent surface flooding in high flow.

In an alternative embodiment the bottom of a water transfer device 107 might include a sediment trap device 2403 that would open downward with the presence of sediments and/or debris at a pre-designated load in the pipe 107 as shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 24 shows the trap 2403 in a closed position on the water transfer device, while FIG. 25 shows the trap 2403 in an open position. In one preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 26, the transfer device 107 with a trap device 2403 might contain a weir mechanism 2601 that forces the water to flow over the top of the weir 2603 preventing sediment from entering a secondary underground water collection and storage chamber. FIGS. 27 a and b show an alternative embodiment where the trap device might include a spring mechanism 2701 that allows the trap to reclose after the load is dropped.

In one embodiment, the primary underground collection and storage chamber might include a clean out access 2801 to the area below the trap device 2403 to allow for maintenance and removal of accumulated sediments under the trap device 2403 as shown in FIG. 28. The area below the trap device 2403 might include a containment component 2803 such as, for example, a box as shown in FIG. 28. In one variation a maintenance access port 2805 from the primary underground water collection and storage chamber might be included for cleaning out the containment container 2803 from the primary chamber.

FIG. 28 shows the trap device 2403 located in the water transfer device 107 in a closed position between the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 and the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105, while FIG. 29 shows it in an open position 2901. FIGS. 30 and 31 show an alternative where the trap device 2403 is located at the bottom of the water transfer device 107 inside the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103. FIG. 30 shows the trap device in a closed position 3001, and FIG. 31 shows it in an open position 3101.

In an alternative embodiment, the water transfer device 107 might include a back flow stop mechanism 3201 as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 that allows the water to flow into the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber 105 from the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103, but prevents the backflow of water once the levels of flow from the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103 are reduced. This backflow stop mechanism might include a spring trap door mechanism that closes upon reduction of flow pressure, thus preventing backflow back into the primary underground water collection and storage chamber 103.

FIG. 32 shows the backflow stop mechanism in an open position, while FIG. 33 shows it closed.

While the fundamental features of the novel nature of the invention have been disclosed herein it should be understood that various aspects of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations are included in the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 

1. An underground water collection and storage system, wherein the system comprises; a primary underground water collection and storage chamber, and, a secondary underground water collect and storage chamber, and one or more water transfer devices connecting the primary chamber and the secondary chamber wherein, the inlet of at least one of the water transfer devices is angled so that the highest point of the inlet in the primary chamber is at a point lower than the lowest part of the water transfer device outlet from the primary chamber.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the water transfer device is a pipe.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the angled inlet opening of the water transfer device is at a 90° angle from the primary chamber water transfer device outlet.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the angled inlet includes a filter.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the angled inlet includes a screen and a filter.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the inlet includes a screen.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of the transfer device includes a filter or screen containment component at the angled inlet of the water transfer device.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the angled inlet of the transfer device has a bypass opening on the top of the transfer device within the primary chamber.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes two or more angled water transfer devices wherein the device inlets are a different heights from the base of the primary underground water collection and storage chamber.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the angled water transfer devices is horizontal to at least one or more of the angled water transfer devices that is below the lowest point of the water transfer device outlet from the primary chamber.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the angled water transfer devices is higher than at least one or more of the angled water transfer devices that is below the lowest point of the water transfer device outlet from the primary chamber.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein a surface access portal is located above at least one of the angled water transfer devices.
 13. An underground water collection and storage system, wherein the system comprises; a primary underground water collection and storage chamber, and, a secondary underground water collect and storage chamber, and a water transfer device connecting the primary chamber and the secondary chamber, wherein, the water transfer device includes a trap opening along the bottom base of the transfer device.
 14. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the trap opening includes a spring mechanism.
 15. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the water transfer device includes a weir downstream from the trap opening.
 16. An underground water collection and storage system, wherein the system comprises; a primary underground water collection and storage chamber, and, a secondary underground water collect and storage chamber, and a water transfer device connecting the primary chamber and the secondary chamber, wherein, the outlet of the water transfer device in the secondary underground water collection and storage chamber has a trap door that allows water flow into the secondary chamber but prevents it from back flowing out of the secondary chamber back into the water transfer device.
 17. The system of claim 13 wherein the trap door has a spring mechanism.
 18. An underground water collection and storage system, wherein the system comprises; a primary underground water collection and storage chamber, and, a secondary underground water collect and storage chamber, and a water transfer device connecting the primary chamber and the secondary chamber, wherein, the inlet of one or more of the angled water transfer devices is higher than the lowest part of the water transfer device outlet from the primary chamber
 19. The system of claim 17 wherein the inlet of the water transfer device includes a filter.
 20. The system of claim 17 wherein the inlet of the water transfer device includes a screen. 